Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-12-22

1hefe she IS! crleC she.
Mrs. Ely was running out of the front
door with box in her hand Her son
in-lsw staggered after her witk a table or
his shoulder,
} Don't you go in again, mother" said
he.
There were other men helping to carry
ont the goods, and they chimed in. ''No,'
cried they, "'tain't safe. Don't you 60
in again, Mis- Elygr
Margtet ran up TO her "Them cur.
tains," gasped she, "an' the parlor car.
pet hev they got them out?"
"Oh, / dun know dun know! I'm
raid they amt. Oh, they amt got
nethin' OUT Everything all burnin' up,
Ca, dear mel oh dear! Where be You
goin'g"
Marg'ret had rushed past her into the
house. She was going into the parlor,
when man caught hold of her. "Where
are you going" he shoUted. "Cleur out
of this"
I'm a-goin to git out them lace cur.
taius an the carpet
1T amt any use. We staid in there
just as long as we could, trying to get
the carpet up; but we couldn't stand it
any longer; it's chock fun of smoke"
The man shouted ID out, ana pulled her
along with him at the same time.
There! said he, when they were out in the
road; look at that There was a flicker
of golden fire in one of the parlor win.
dows. Then those lace curtains blazvd.
! ''There!' said the man again: ~ told YOU
it wasn't any USE
Marg'rot turned on him There was
/ As
wouldn't tell of it, said she, in loud
voice IF | was pack OF stout, able
bodied men and couldn't ha' got out them
curtains an that carpet afore they burnt
up, wouldn't tell of It,"
Flora and the children had been taken
into one Of the neighboring houses. Mrs.
Ely still stood out in the freezing air
clutching her box and wailing. Her SON
in-law was trying hard to persuade her 10
go into the house where her daughter
was,
Marg'ret Joined them. 81 would 60 il
was you, Mis- Ety." said she.
mo, l amt goin'. / don't care where
be. III stay right here in the road
Oh, dear metz
Don't take on so"
81 amt got thing left but Jest my
best cap here. | did get that out Oh
dear! eyerything's burnt up but jest this
cap, It's all I've got left I'll Jest put
it on an set right down here in the road
an freeze TO death. Nobody II care. Oh
dear! dear! dearr
ooh, don't Mis- Ely" Marg'ret, al
most rigid herself with the cold, put hel
hand on the other woman's arm. JUS
then the roof of the burning house fel
in. There was shrill vail from tn,
spectators.
"Do come, mother Sam begged, wher
they had stood staring for e moment.
Eyes, do go, "Ms Ety." said Marg'ret
"You musn feel So
"It's easy 'nough TO talk" said Mrs
Ely. "Cain't your house; and if twas
, you wouldn't had much to lose noth,n
, but passed. of old wooden cheers an
, tables"
{ 81 know it, said MeGg'ret.
, Finally Mrs. Ely was started, and Mar
, g'ret hurried home. She thought sad
r denly Of the children and the money
; But the children had not walked in all III
! tumult, and the money was where she ha
@ left it. She did not 60 to bed again, bu
9 sat over the kitchen stove thinking, vii
her elbows on her knees, until morning
, When morning came she had laid ont on
D plan Of action.
{ That afternoon she cook some of he
Z money, went up TO Mr.. Whites store, IN,
@ bought some Nottingham lace curtain
! like the ones her neighboGs had lost
] They we're OFF the same piece.
j That evening she went TO call on Mrs
La nd nd hoI frf.
j TO think that she might send the parct
g anonymously leave it on tho door step
T but she could not.
"Twon't mOrtify me 30 much "a 'twi
q the other way" said she, IAN I'd oDgh
I to be mortified"
SO she carried the curtains, and me
e with semblance OF gratitude and a rea
B. ity of amazement and incredibly, whic
i shamed her beyond measure.
e After she got home that night she too
up the Bible, then laid il down. Her
j. I've been talkin' an worryin' about gittir
n up higher notch" said she, an kin
of despIsin Mis- Ely when / see her o
g one. Mis- Ely wouldn't have stole,
Il amt nOthin' side Of her now, an | neve
/ kin be"
The scheme which Marg'ret had laid t
8 confront Mrs. White was never carrie
out. Her defiant spirit had failed her.
u Que day she went there and begged 70
o work again. "Tm willin' to do mos
., anything" said she. I'm come an d
your washin, or anything, an 1 don
want no pay
q Mrs. White was going away tae mex
q day, and she had no york to give the oil
woman but She offered her some fuel an
y some money.
Marg'ret looked at her scornfuIly. "py
= got money enough, thank ye,' said Ah'
II "My son sends me five dollars week
The other woman stared at her Wit
Y amazement. She told her husband the
right that she believed Marg'ret Pool
u was getting little unsettled. She di
u not know what 20 make of her.
= Not long after that Marg'ret went INT
= Mr.. Whites store, and slyly laid som
D. money on the counter. She knew 1t {
Z be enough TO cover the cost of the art
. cles stolen. Then she went away andlei
\ IL there.
m That night she went after her Bibl
!, 81 declare will read il 20 night" mn
y tered she. Give paid fur en- sh